The Trail Dames PodcastTue, 08 Jan 2019 08:00:00 +0000Mon, 14 Jan 2019 12:20:20 +0000Libsyn WebEngine 2.0http://traildames.com
enhttp://traildames.comhttp://static.libsyn.com/p/assets/f/4/4/0/f4402baa90823c09/Trail_Dames_artwork.jpgThe Trail Dames PodcastAnna Huthmakercleansteve@steveadams.infoepisodicEpisode #10 - Laura DonovanTue, 08 Jan 2019 08:00:00 +0000When asked about herself, Laura Donovan says “two things run in my blood–hiking and teaching.” Several years ago, after moving up to New York, Laura found herself teaching music in the schools during the week and traversing the hiking trails of the Adirondacks during her weekends.

For years, she had done lots and lots of hiking, in Georgia, South Carolina, and Vermont, much of it solo. While she had heard of Trail Dames while living down South, it wasn’t until she moved back home that she decided to merge her two passions and start a Trail Dames chapter of her own.

In addition to being an advocate for Body Positivity, and LGBTQ issues, she wanted to help other women find the same joy in the outdoors that she does. These days, more often than not, you will find her weekends spent surrounded by other women, laughing and learning together.

She is not only bringing her talent for leadership and love for adventure to the table but an ability to inspire, motivate and create a safe place for women to find their own love for the outdoors. All of us, her students, her friends, and her Dames, are lucky to know her!

]]>When asked about herself, Laura Donovan says “two things run in my blood–hiking and teaching.” Several years ago, after moving up to New York, Laura found herself teaching music in the schools during the week and traversing the hiking trails of the Adirondacks during her weekends.

For years, she had done lots and lots of hiking, in Georgia, South Carolina, and Vermont, much of it solo. While she had heard of Trail Dames while living down South, it wasn’t until she moved back home that she decided to merge her two passions and start a Trail Dames chapter of her own.

In addition to being an advocate for Body Positivity, and LGBTQ issues, she wanted to help other women find the same joy in the outdoors that she does. These days, more often than not, you will find her weekends spent surrounded by other women, laughing and learning together.

She is not only bringing her talent for leadership and love for adventure to the table but an ability to inspire, motivate and create a safe place for women to find their own love for the outdoors. All of us, her students, her friends, and her Dames, are lucky to know her!

And being who she is, she did complete that hike. And many, many others! But Regina did not stop there. During her hike, she had developed a desire to want to help other women hike the trail. She started Forgiveness Walks, a business where she coaches others in overcoming their fears, obstacles, and resistance so that they can find their own success on any trail. She also went on to become a Ridge Runner, helping hikers through education and living her own commitment to the trail. Oh, and along the way, she found the time and energy to become a certified Radical Forgiveness Coach, through which Regina combines her trail guide experience to offer a unique holistic inner and outer journey.

Join us as Regina talks about her journey to the trail, her many thru-hikes, and the tools that she uses to help her achieve her goals. And last, but not least, follow the link below to learn about her own Meet the Mountains technique. Regina created this in hopes that we can all learn to love the uphill journey we all so often find ourselves on. She has a free guide to the Meet the Mountains technique, both video and mp3, on her site as a gift to us all.

]]>https://forgivenesswalks.com/ https://forgivenesswalks.com/reginameetsmountains/https://www.facebook.com/regina.reiter ]]>49:06cleanfullEpisode #07 - Judy GrossTue, 09 Oct 2018 07:00:00 +0000JudyGross, aka Lightheart, spent her whole life in the outdoors, hiking and enjoying the trail. She raised a couple of Eagle Scouts, putting in trail miles right alongside them, and throughout her adulthood, while she became a nurse and simultaneously studied sewing and design, she was hitting the trails.

In 2009, after lugging heavy tents up and over countless mountains, she decided that she could create a better one. Lightheart Gear was born. Join us as she shares her story of hiking, designing and starting a business.

]]>Judy Gross, aka Lightheart, spent her whole life in the outdoors, hiking and enjoying the trail. She raised a couple of Eagle Scouts, putting in trail miles right alongside them, and throughout her adulthood, while she became a nurse and simultaneously studied sewing and design, she was hitting the trails. In 2009, after lugging heavy tents up and over countless mountains, she decided that she could create a better one. Lightheart Gear was born. Join us as she shares her story of hiking, designing and starting a business. You can learn more about Judy at: https://lightheartgear.com/https://www.facebook.com/LightHeartGearhttps://www.instagram.com/lightheart_gear/ ]]>35:38cleanfullEpisode #06 - Christine GautreauxTue, 11 Sep 2018 20:05:14 +0000Christine Gautreaux is a hiker, mother, author, artist and life coach. She centers her work around both art and the outdoors and has a special passion for helping what she calls 'the helper.'

Whether you are a caregiver, therapist, social worker, author or healer, Christine has made it her life's work to help make your life better. She uses movement, hiking, storytelling, and voice to facilitate healing and help people to identify and fulfill their dreams and purpose.

Christine has been a speaker and guest clinician at many national conferences and will be speaking at the Parliament of World Religions in Toronto Canada this fall. When she is not traveling the country helping others, she can be found in her own labyrinth immersed in nature and the beauty of the outdoors.

You can also find the book, Stillpoint on the Amazon store at this link. https://www.amazon.com/Stillpoint-Self-Care-Playbook- Caregivers-Breathe-ebook/dp/B07FXY34PC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8& qid=1534806728&sr=8-1&keywords=stillpoint+playbook

]]>Christine Gautreaux is a hiker, mother, author, artist and life coach. She centers her work around both art and the outdoors and has a special passion for helping what she calls 'the helper.'

Whether you are a caregiver, therapist, social worker, author or healer, Christine has made it her life's work to help make your life better. She uses movement, hiking, storytelling, and voice to facilitate healing and help people to identify and fulfill their dreams and purpose.

Christine has been a speaker and guest clinician at many national conferences and will be speaking at the Parliament of World Religions in Toronto Canada this fall. When she is not traveling the country helping others, she can be found in her own labyrinth immersed in nature and the beauty of the outdoors.

You can also find the book, Stillpoint on the Amazon store at this link. https://www.amazon.com/Stillpoint-Self-Care-Playbook- Caregivers-Breathe-ebook/dp/B07FXY34PC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8& qid=1534806728&sr=8-1&keywords=stillpoint+playbook

]]>01:02:37cleanfullEpisode #05 - Karen RutterFri, 24 Aug 2018 07:00:00 +0000Karen Lord Rutter is a woman of many, many talents!! She is a retired teacher and administrator with a career littered with awards and accolades. With a self-professed love of all things learning, it is no surprise that she has traveled the world and experienced everything she possibly could!

However, it was her son David, and the family golden retriever Copper, who brought about some of her greatest adventures. What started out as an agreement to support Davids thru-hike has blossomed into a book, complete with book signings, educational presentations and speaking engagements all over the country.

Join me as Karen and I sit down to talk about both supporting present-day hikers and creating future hikers. For her, it is all in a days work.

You can learn more about Karen, and order her book at the links below:

]]>Karen Lord Rutter is a woman of many, many talents!! She is a retired teacher and administrator with a career littered with awards and accolades. With a self-professed love of all things learning, it is no surprise that she has traveled the world and experienced everything she possibly could!

However, it was her son David, and the family golden retriever Copper, who brought about some of her greatest adventures. What started out as an agreement to support Davids thru-hike has blossomed into a book, complete with book signings, educational presentations and speaking engagements all over the country.

Join me as Karen and I sit down to talk about both supporting present-day hikers and creating future hikers. For her, it is all in a days work.

You can learn more about Karen, and order her book at the links below:

]]>53:07cleanfullEpisode #04 - SummerTue, 29 May 2018 07:00:00 +0000Summer did not grow up hiking....in fact, it was pretty near the top of things she 'would just rather not do!' The mosquitoes and cold of Minnesota, combined with her speed and discomfort kept her off the trails and safely ensconced in the world of writing and photography. However, one day she moved to Portland and found herself venturing outside. At first, she still hated it, but it wasn't long before the beauty around her began calling her to the trails. In her own words, "she fell in love with the air, the moss, the views, the waterfalls, and most of all, the strength that she felt whenever she hiked."

As she grew to love the outdoors, she also realized, more and more, that she was not represented at all out there. A self-proclaimed fat, queer woman, she never saw anyone like herself on the trails. So she decided to create a community where people like her could come together. Her goal was to make a safe place for folks that are under-represented in the outdoors, and she did just that by creating Fat Girls Hiking.

Now, Summer not only leads hikes and outings in the Portland area but also has extended her reach to include chapters in Minnesota and Tennessee. And don't let the name of the group fool you, everyone is welcome in Fat Girl's Hiking! Summer has reached out to every person who is looking for a place to fall in love with the outdoors, themselves, and life. She has taken body-positivism, outreach, and acceptance to a whole new level and has created something truly special. Whether it be hiking, boxing, accessibility outings, or yoga, Summer is reaching out and making a difference by creating a place in the outdoors for everyone.

After I talk to Summer, join me as I share my own Appalachian Trail Adventures. As I start my thru-hike attempt, I encounter giants, gunfire, and spiritual renewal in the form of red and green soda cans.

]]>Fat Girl's Hiking! Summer has reached out to every person who is looking for a place to fall in love with the outdoors, themselves, and life. She has taken body-positivism, outreach, and acceptance to a whole new level and has created something truly special. Whether it be hiking, boxing, accessibility outings, or yoga, Summer is reaching out and making a difference by creating a place in the outdoors for everyone. After I talk to Summer, join me as I share my own Appalachian Trail Adventures. As I start my thru-hike attempt, I encounter giants, gunfire, and spiritual renewal in the form of red and green soda cans. Special thanks to Huthmaker Violins, Dixie Huthmaker in particular, The Burns Sisters, and the Hiking Radio Network for making this episode possible. ]]>45:52cleanfullEpisode #03 - Sue WilliamsFri, 11 May 2018 20:36:20 +0000When Sue Williams got into backpacking, she noticed that there was very little aimed at the over-50s hiker and even less at the female over-50s hiker. She decided to do something about it and, with her husband John, started FiftySense.com. The site is aimed at encouraging Baby Boomers that there is plenty to do out of doors and that there is still plenty of time to do it. The tagline of the site is "Common Sense Ideas For Thriving After 50."

She is passionate about dispelling FEAR, which Sue refers to as False Evidence Appearing Real, believing that it is never too old for somebody to get out into nature.

Anna draws out many of Sue's great stories and adventures in this wide-ranging conversation. Sue even inspires Anna to add the Annapurna Circuit to her Bucket List.

Sue will be speaking at this year's Trail Dames Summit and, if you'd like to reach out to her, you should visit her website (above) or her Facebook page of the same name.

Anna told another story from her journal; this time it was about a weekend of Trail Magic at Woody Gap, where Anna believes that she got even more out of the giving than did the recipients.

]]>When Sue Williams got into backpacking, she noticed that there was very little aimed at the over-50s hiker and even less at the female over-50s hiker. She decided to do something about it and, with her husband John, started FiftySense.com. The site is aimed at encouraging Baby Boomers that there is plenty to do out of doors and that there is still plenty of time to do it. The tagline of the site is "Common Sense Ideas For Thriving After 50."

She is passionate about dispelling FEAR, which Sue refers to as False Evidence Appearing Real, believing that it is never too old for somebody to get out into nature.

Anna draws out many of Sue's great stories and adventures in this wide-ranging conversation. Sue even inspires Anna to add the Annapurna Circuit to her Bucket List.

Sue will be speaking at this year's Trail Dames Summit and, if you'd like to reach out to her, you should visit her website (above) or her Facebook page of the same name.

Anna told another story from her journal; this time it was about a weekend of Trail Magic at Woody Gap, where Anna believes that she got even more out of the giving than did the recipients.

]]>37:57cleanfullEpisode #02 - Bunny KramerMon, 16 Apr 2018 20:05:18 +0000Today's guest has made a name for herself for not only loving the trail and the outdoors but for creating connections between women so that they can find and share that same love.

Bunny Kramer has spent years in online communities helping women learn about the logistics of hiking. If you need to know what clothes to wear, which water bottle to carry or what trail to take, she has answers!

In addition to the day to day things we all need to know, she helps with the mental and emotional side of getting out on the trail as well. She speaks to fear and triumph and everything in between. Bunny has always been known for sharing her knowledge and experience freely and has gone on to create some of the largest online platforms for women in the outdoors in the world.

Join us as we get to know her personally and listen to her share her motivation for bringing us all together.

If you'd like to connect with Bunny or any of the groups that she runs, here are the links you'll need.

Anna starts a new series today; recounting some of her own tales on the trail. This week, she describes the first three-day hike that she did with a group of nine women. As you'll hear–and as you can see below–her attempt to gracefully swing under a downed tree didn't go quite as planned.

To find out more about the Trail Dames, here are a few of their links.

If you'd like to reach out to Anna with suggestions for the show or simply to let her know what you think of it, email her at info@traildames.com

]]>Today's guest has made a name for herself for not only loving the trail and the outdoors but for creating connections between women so that they can find and share that same love.

Bunny Kramer has spent years in online communities helping women learn about the logistics of hiking. If you need to know what clothes to wear, which water bottle to carry or what trail to take, she has answers!

In addition to the day to day things we all need to know, she helps with the mental and emotional side of getting out on the trail as well. She speaks to fear and triumph and everything in between. Bunny has always been known for sharing her knowledge and experience freely and has gone on to create some of the largest online platforms for women in the outdoors in the world.

Join us as we get to know her personally and listen to her share her motivation for bringing us all together.

If you'd like to connect with Bunny or any of the groups that she runs, here are the links you'll need.

Anna starts a new series today; recounting some of her own tales on the trail. This week, she describes the first three-day hike that she did with a group of nine women. As you'll hear–and as you can see below–her attempt to gracefully swing under a downed tree didn't go quite as planned.

To find out more about the Trail Dames, here are a few of their links.

]]>54:02cleanfullEpisode #01 - Carla RobertsonTue, 20 Mar 2018 17:31:33 +0000Welcome to the new Trail Dames Podcast. The aim of the podcast is to inspire women to get out into nature and to realize that there are many like-minded, suportive women just like them.

I'm Anna Huthmaker, the founder of Trail Dames. In 2003, I hiked over 700 miles on the Appalachian Trail and discovered that there weren't too many people like me out there. The adventure was pivotal to my life and when I returned home, I set out to form a welcoming, supportive club of like-minded women. Through this forum, I've been lucky enough to meet and become friends with a diverse group of ladies, many of whom I will be interviewing for the show.

This week, my guest is Carla Robertson, an inspirational woman and life coach. Carla is an Appalachian Trail thru-hiker who discovered a talent for inspiring people through that rich experience.

Please subscribe to the show so that when Episode #2 is released, it will appear on your phone immediately. And please, if you have suggestions for the show, or if you simply want to write and tell me what you think of the show, email me directly at ahuthmaker@yahoo.com

If you'd like to learn more about Trail Dames, visit the TrailDames.com website for more information. The Summit will be in July this year, in North Carolina, so visit TrailDamesSummit.com for all the details on that.

]]>Welcome to the new Trail Dames Podcast. The aim of the podcast is to inspire women to get out into nature and to realize that there are many like-minded, suportive women just like them.

I'm Anna Huthmaker, the founder of Trail Dames. In 2003, I hiked over 700 miles on the Appalachian Trail and discovered that there weren't too many people like me out there. The adventure was pivotal to my life and when I returned home, I set out to form a welcoming, supportive club of like-minded women. Through this forum, I've been lucky enough to meet and become friends with a diverse group of ladies, many of whom I will be interviewing for the show.

This week, my guest is Carla Robertson, an inspirational woman and life coach. Carla is an Appalachian Trail thru-hiker who discovered a talent for inspiring people through that rich experience.

Please subscribe to the show so that when Episode #2 is released, it will appear on your phone immediately. And please, if you have suggestions for the show, or if you simply want to write and tell me what you think of the show, email me directly at ahuthmaker@yahoo.com

If you'd like to learn more about Trail Dames, visit the TrailDames.com website for more information. The Summit will be in July this year, in North Carolina, so visit TrailDamesSummit.com for all the details on that.